Timbers eliminated from Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

How's this for a script: amateur team from Hollywood, Calif., fronted by star actor pulls off a huge upset by beating the Portland Timbers to open the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Unfortunately, for the Timbers, it became reality Tuesday night in front of a PGE Park crowd of 3,089. Hollywood United, a U.S. Adult Soccer Association team, scored the winning goal less than a minute into stoppage time of the second half, then held on for a 3-2 victory in the first round of the U.S. Soccer Federation's national championship tournament.

As the final horn sounded, Portland players hung their heads in disbelief as their opponents erupted in cheers.

"We're disappointed, obviously," Timbers goalkeeper Jordan James said. "To play as an amateur and come here and play would be a dream for anybody. They took it and rode it as much as they could. They took their opportunities, and they did what they had to do. Unfortunately, it didn't go that well for us."

The match should have been a welcome interruption from United Soccer Leagues First Division play for Portland. Mired in a month-long slump, the Timbers had notched just one win in their past 10 matches. Hollywood United's roster was filled with amateurs, a couple of former Timbers and other top-tier hopefuls. Almost a David vs. Goliath matchup.

"They're probably not gonna be as fit or as sharp as us, but they're gonna want to win, just like we will," Timbers midfielder Shaun Higgins said before game.

Turned out Hollywood United's players were just as fit and sharp - and, ultimately, showed that they wanted the win more than Portland.

The Timbers started slow but drew first blood in 31st minute when forward Chris Brown knocked in a perfectly placed free kick from about 25 yards.

But Hollywood's Matt Taylor, who played last season for Portland, tied the game at 1-1 in the 44th minute by converting a penalty kick.

Anthony LaPaglia, the star of TV crime-drama "Without a Trace," a goalkeeper in his youth and Hollywood United's president, had flown into Portland on a private jet minutes before kickoff. He said he raced down to Hollywood's locker room, screamed "Yes" at the team before returning to his luxury suite. Jimmy-Jean Louis, an actor on the show "Heroes," was among a handful of friends joining him.

Portland's Takayuki Suzuki could have given the Timbers a 2-1 lead five minutes into the second half. But he flubbed a penalty kick. Midfielder Arsene Oka made up for it less than a minute later by heading in a goal from the middle of the penalty box.

Taylor tied the game at 2 in the 57th minute by converting another penalty kick. Then, with the game nearing what would have been overtime, his teammate, Earl Alexander cranked in an unassisted shot from 15 yards.

A few minutes later, LaPaglia raced down again to meet his players entering their locker room.
Spreading hugs all around, he yelled, "You guys are unbelievable."